Volunteer officers join local police

Gary Rutherford fulfills his childhood dream each time he mounts a motorcycle and helps to police area communities as a volunteer officer in the Ingham County Sheriff's Department. "When I was a little boy, I thought the most impressive thing in the world was to be a motor officer," he said. Rutherford and Kurt Bagner were sworn in as part of the sheriff's department on May 25 and are the first volunteer motorcycle officers to join the county's police force. Both men carry guns and have the power to arrest individuals, despite their volunteer status. "As you get older, you start to appreciate the things around you, and at some point in your life, you want to give back," Rutherford said.

Latest Wallflowers, Audioslave albums mediocre

"Rebel, Sweetheart," The Wallflowers The Wallflowers have broken back into the music scene with an all too familiar sound - trying to get back to their glory days of 1996's "Bringing Down the Horse." The CD is similar to their other releases, but there is one key difference - the lyrics are clearly written and allow the listeners to sympathize with the band.

Bush's stance on stem cell research illustrates backward mentality

George W. Bush's treatment of stem cell research makes me feel like I am living in a 12th century theocracy.

2 state plans could increase MSU funding

MSU's budget for the 2005-06 academic school year would benefit from either of the two plans to fund Michigan's 15 public universities that are moving through the state House and Senate. On Thursday, a senate subcommittee approved the state's $1.7 billion budget for higher education.

MSU library partners with Google

Like many MSU students, family community services senior Megan Holm found researching with MSU library's MAGIC catalog a frustrating experience. "I had the hardest time using it," Holm said.

'Grease' musical enjoyable for families, fans of 1970s movie

Poodle skirts, hot rods, leather jackets and skin-tight Levi's. The combination can only mean one thing: "Grease" is back with a vengeance, and it has put the cool fellas and hot ladies of East Lansing on its hit list.

Crew member makes All-American team

Senior Women's Crew member Erin Robertson was named a 2005 Pocock All-American first-team selection on Friday. Robertson, a native of Middleville, Mich., was selected to the team by the Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association and is one of 20 members honored by the group.

Banjo 'immersion'

Joe Schelkopf and Linda Garrison sat outside McDonel Hall on Thursday with their banjos in hand. While they played, they took turns providing vocals and discussing technique. Schelkopf is from Nebraska and Garrison is from Missouri; they never met each other until the three-day Midwest Banjo Camp, here at MSU. The camp - which was held Friday through Sunday and attracted people of varying ages and skill levels, who play either old-time or bluegrass - provided "48 hours of banjo immersion." "We got people from all over the country," said Ken Perlman, director and instructor for the banjo camp and professional banjo musician.

Personal attacks were unwarranted

Isn't it amazing that, when called out on the inaccuracies of an argument, liberals (or Libertarians) always change their position and start with the personal attacks.

Lack of WMD shows Bush's bad decision

Scott Owen should really consider stepping out of the persecution complex and addressing the issues ("Bush's reasons for war proven valid" SN 6/2). I don't know what weapons of mass destruction claims were actually "verified." I do know that these same groups currently threatening the United States were at one point or another funded and supported by the U.S., from Saddam Hussein to Osama bin Laden.

Police briefs 06/06/05

Crowe carries 'Cinderella Man'

"Cinderella Man" is a classical tale of the underdog rising to the challenge - and on his way to the top, he brought a depressed nation with him.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Excavation of MSU's first dorm begins

For the first student-residents on MSU's campus, 150 years ago when it was still known as Michigan Agricultural College, manual labor was a required part of their education. This summer, an MSU anthropology class is carrying on that tradition of hands-on learning by excavating the building those first students called home.

Officials work for plastic-foam alternatives

The foam to-go cup for coffee, the clear, plastic, disposable container for food storage, the little foam peanuts that seem to cling to everything: All are made from polystyrene and none decompose. While most people throw these items into the trash, some university employees are trying to establish other ways to eliminate the abundance of polystyrene on campus and elsewhere.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Banjo camp brings out-of-state musicians to campus

Joe Schelkopf and Linda Garrison sat outside of McDonel Hall on Thursday, banjos in hand. While they played, they took turns providing vocals and discussing technique.

MIDDAY UPDATE: Proposed funding plans could be beneficial for MSU

MSU's budget for the 2005-06 academic school year would benefit from two different funding-formula plans, currently going through the state's house and senate. A senate subcommittee approved the state's $1.7 billion budget for higher education on Thursday.

Scientific conversion

Michelle Pifer spends most of her weekdays with her eyes behind safety goggles, measuring out chemicals in a chemistry laboratory on campus. Pifer, who is pursuing a teaching certificate in middle school and high school science in a field that has traditionally been dominated by men nationwide and at MSU - until now.

MSU to host Lansing labor law conference

An "Emerging Issues in Labor and Employment Law" conference will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Out-of-state recruiters take Mich. grads as job market in state dwindles

Ever since Julia Ridgway was 5 years old, she knew she wanted to be a teacher. She completed at least the first step to achieving her dream when she graduated from the College of Education last year and recently finished her one-year internship as a student teacher at a Birmingham, Mich.

SN shows bias in abortion editorial

This letter is in response to the article "Goal of guilt." After reading this article I was left scratching my head.